Faults:

There are a few things that will need restoration for the age of the car, but not urgently. There is few paint oxidation showing on top of the roof, a small tear on the front armrest and front driver's seat along the left corner edge.

General Comments:

For a short wheel base sedan, the rear and front is reasonably roomy with comfort. The ride is very smooth and quiet.

For a large heavy sedan, the acceleration is reasonably responsive, including braking. Since this is a short wheel base version of the W126 body style S-Class, merging into another lane is relatively quick and smooth.

The car does feel heavy when making rapid sharp narrow turns.

The original Becker Grand Prix factory radio system with the cassette player, sounds crisp and clear for the age.

1989 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 420 SEL 4.2L V8

Summary:

Faults:

Passenger door has to be slammed shut. Can't fix or it will ruin the seal around the door. I just get used to it.

Terrible on ice and snow (similar to a Chevy Camaro as far as snow handling). Rear tires spin even on wet pavement when starting up steep hill. This was similar to my rear wheel Volvo as far as snow handling.

General Comments:

This is the most luxurious car imaginable. Still looks new inside, and everything works.

For the mileage, it is very reliable. I have owned the car from 167,000 to 202,000.

New parts are very expensive. Don't buy if you cannot afford $3000 in parts at some point. Power steering kit was $2600.

Much less expensive overall than a newer car. I paid $6200.

Must be maintained. Service only at a Mercedes dealer or German-born mechanic (others charge more money than Mercedes dealer, and don't know what to look for or have bad attitudes).

Exceptionally roomy interior.

Very rugged, built like a Russian army tank, you can't hurt it.

In a class of its own, much more impressive than a Cadillac.

There is no reason to buy newer, and newer is certainly not an upgrade. This one was built to last and better than newer models. No electronics problems.

Mileage impressive for weight: 23 mpg on highway at 85 mph, 11 mpg in City on very short trips in winter only. 16-19 mpg in summer mixed driving.

Drives over 110 mph with little vibration.

Exceptionally heavy car, not for tailgating. Keep following distance.

Exceptionally long wheel base has pluses and minuses. Not for quick lane changes on crowded freeway or tight parking spots. Not good for fast speeds on uneven dippy pavement where a small car might be O.K., but excels on rough roads. Leans around corners more than a small car. Ride is as smooth as gliding on air, while at same time delivering a real feel for the road (a remarkable combination of luxury and sport feel).

19th Feb 2010, 15:01

One more thing I forgot to add. The engine is susceptible to oil leaks. There was an oil leak in the head. But the mechanic re-torqued the head for $250, which has temporarily fixed it. Because of the high pressure of the oil pump, this type of leak is somewhat common in these models. Some people will try to scam you into a $5000 rebuild. A work around to prevent it from happening again is to only fill your oil up to half way above the add line on the dipstick. I have to have my oil changed elsewhere since Mercedes dealers want to fill it to specifications.